A HISTORY OF CARING AND COMMUNITY

“Time is not of the clock or the calendar in these days, but of the essence. No one has it to spare, but there is an art in using it. The nursing profession, which is the art of caring for the sick and preventing illness, thus promoting health, is one of the greatest arts and the most valuable use of time in this scientific age. The growth of the Visiting Nurse Service is but a reflection of the universal growth in the demand for more and better health services.”

– H. Stuart Ortloff, Founding President
Visiting Nurse Service of Huntington Township, Inc., 1952

“We wanted to thank you all for the kind and caring way you were able to help not only my dad but the entire family through the toughest time our family ever had to endure. We were always treated wonderfully by the greeters at the front desk, the health aides, the nurse and social workers. I was amazed at the way you were able to guide us all through the process. We were truly lucky to have my dad in your care.”

“First and foremost, the Hospice House was a Godsend. The nurses and aides provided my sister with excellent care and their support for our family and friends was beautiful. Anything we asked for was answered with an immediate, knowledgeable response. No one could ever ask for a more compassionate, competent care provider team at the end of their life.”

“Just a short note to thank you for sending the staff to help me get on my ‘feet’ during this very difficult time. They gave me confidence and hope and I could not have done it without them.”

“Your staff allowed me to be a wife instead of a caregiver.”

“The VNSHS Team came to our home at the time I was facing a serious autoimmune disease. They were professional, reliable, personable and compassionate. They were an integral part of my medical care both before and after my brief hospitalization for this disease. Their approach and collaboration with my doctors put me on the road to recovery.”

“My continued thanks for the wonderful work you do in homes and at Hospice House. During the pandemic, your VNSHS staff was terrific – coming to my mother and keeping her out of the hospital.”

“Comforting but authoritative. VNSHS visits are productive and professional. VNSHS staff are talented and have a deep knowledge of their responsibilities. This creates a spirit of confidence and a healing environment for the patient and family.”

Incorporated in 1952, Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk (VNSHS) is committed to providing the best possible health care to patients regardless of race, religion, age, sex or ability to pay. With a tradition of professional, charitable and compassionate care, our skilled home nursing and hospice services, inpatient Hospice House, home health aides and community programs such as flu shot and blood pressure clinics and bereavement groups serve residents throughout Suffolk County. We provide post-acute care for patients in their home, which may include assisted living facilities, and inpatient care in our Hospice House.

An independent, not-for-profit health care agency rooted in the community, we understand the needs of the community. Our nurses, therapists, aides and administrative staff live in the community we serve. VNSHS is the first visiting nurse agency in Suffolk County and in 2004, opened the first freestanding inpatient hospice on Long Island. Today, VNSHS makes more than 80,000 home visits every year. We care for nearly 2,500 home health care patients and 700 hospice patients annually

2020's

2020 – VNSHS continues services without interruption during the COVID pandemic, including providing 24/7 care at Hospice House
2021 – VNSHS reopens The Community Thrift Shop to benefit Hospice House in its new location at 345 Main Street in Huntington
2022 – VNSHS earns a 4.5-star quality of care rating from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which places VNSHS as a top-rated home health care agency in the region
2022 – VNSHS celebrates 70 years of providing compassionate healthcare of the highest quality
2022 – The Community Thrift Shop doubles the size of its retail space
2024 – Silvia Cota is named Chief Executive Officer; Linda Taylor retires
2024 – The 20th Anniversary of Hospice House is celebrated

2010’s

2012 – VNSHS celebrates a milestone of 60 successful years of community service
2016 – Medical transportation program is established to assist and transport homebound patients to medical appointments
2019 – The 15th Anniversary of Hospice House is celebrated

2000’s

2001 – Inaugural 5k Run for the Health of It
2002 – Name is changed to Visiting Nurse Services & Hospice of Suffolk
2004 – VNSHS opens New York State’s first freestanding inpatient hospice – Hospice House in East Northport
2009 – The 1st Helen Strobl Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a high school student entering nursing school

1990’s

1991 – VNS moves into current address at 505 Main Street in Northport
1997 – The Balanced Budget Act is signed by President Clinton changing the reimbursement method for certified home health agencies

1980’s

A decade of incredible growth; the 80’s brought significant change in the provision of home health care increasing its service area and types of services offered

1980 – Linda Taylor is named Executive Director; Helen Strobl retires
1989 – VNS wins State Hospice Certification, becoming second official hospice on Long Island

1970’s

1972 – Founding President, H. Stuart Ortloff passes away
1978 – Fire destroys the VNS building on Elm Street; VNS moves to 125 West Hills Road in Huntington Station a few weeks later

1960’s

1962 – Helen Strobl joins VNA as Supervisor of nurses; VNA joins the United Fund of Huntington Township and becomes a member of Federation of VNA’s of Nassau County
1965 – VNA amalgamates Suffolk County Department of Health and changes name to Visiting Nurse Service
1966 – VNS becomes eligible to participate in the Medicare program when it begins on July 1, 1966
1967 – VNS moves to larger office space located at 52 Elm Street in Huntington

1950’s

1952 – Visiting Nurse Service of Huntington Township (Visiting Nurse Association or VNA) becomes incorporated and makes first house call
1958 – Due to the need for additional office space, VNA moves to 304 Main Street in Huntington
1959 – The Thrift Shop is established, bringing an extra source of income

Our Mission

Provide health services of the highest quality
Enable people to function as independently as possible in their homes and communities
Promote individual, family and community health
Maintain a tradition of charitable and compassionate care
Provide and maintain quality of life for the terminally ill throughout the dying process and bereavement period

What Sets Us Apart?

Customized

Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk is committed to what matters most to our patients. Guided by physician orders, we work closely with each patient and caregiver to determine their own individualized care plan to maintain quality of life and maximum independence.

Continuity

We provide a comprehensive array of health care services and maintain maximum staff continuity within a patient’s treatment period. This ensures the highest level of care and comfort and allows patients to seamlessly transition to the varied specialty services should the need arise.

Charitable

We work with patients and their caregivers to determine the services covered by insurance. As a certified home health agency, we bill Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies. When insurance does not cover a service, fees are adjusted based on ability to pay.

Compassionate

We are proud of our unwavering commitment to treating patients with kindness and dignity as we help them achieve their maximum level of health and quality of life. This has been the cornerstone of our mission since we were founded and what distinguishes VNSHS in today’s complex, dynamic health care world.